The Struggle

I started my weight loss journey 6 months ago at 249 and 2 days ago I decided to actually try and fight myself to stay focused. I'm at 255 and it's hard I need help with food to eat and stuff. Please someone who knows better help me. My first goal is 200lbs, second goal is 175 and my third goal is 155

Replies

  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    Have you entered your info into MFP and gotten a calorie goal?
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    we can give you a very long list of food and even exercise but if you don't want to do it right now you won't lose weight.

    It's apparent to me anyway you didn't want it bad enough over the last 6months...

    my only advice is decide which hard you want...

    it's hard to lose weight and it's hard to be overweight...choose your hard...

    and this is coming from someone who yo yo'd the same 40lbs for 3 years and finally found MFP and 2 years later I am down 60lbs.
  • Whitezombiegirl
    Whitezombiegirl Posts: 1,042 Member
    edited October 2015
    I wrote a list of meals that I like and prepare. My go to breakfast is bacon and avocado. I have a big salad with protein for lunch everyday and roasted veg with meat most nights. I dont use dressings or roast with oil.

    At the start I kept an inspiration folder with pictures, quotes, information in. I also kept a journal. Good luck.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    Have you entered your info into MFP and gotten a calorie goal?

    No I haven't not sure what that is.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    we can give you a very long list of food and even exercise but if you don't want to do it right now you won't lose weight.

    It's apparent to me anyway you didn't want it bad enough over the last 6months...

    my only advice is decide which hard you want...

    it's hard to lose weight and it's hard to be overweight...choose your hard...

    and this is coming from someone who yo yo'd the same 40lbs for 3 years and finally found MFP and 2 years later I am down 60lbs.

    I didn't want it before and I was easily defeated I want it now and I've been working at it but not sure how to achieve it on my own I need help. I've gone down 1.5 lbs in the past week but since I haven't gotten back to my original weight it doesn't look like I've lost anything on the chart. I'm focused and ready to do this I just need tips. That I can go do and not be confused with.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    I wrote a listing meals that online and prepare. My go to breakfast is bacon and avocado. I have a big salad with protein for lunch everyday and roasted veg with meat most nights. I dont use dressings or roast with oil.

    At the start I kept an inspiration folder with pictures, quotes, information in. I also kept a journal. Good luck.

    Thank you I will do the journal suggestion and take photos as well.
  • DeguelloTex
    DeguelloTex Posts: 6,652 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    Have you entered your info into MFP and gotten a calorie goal?

    No I haven't not sure what that is.

    It's My Fitness Pal.
  • TeaBea
    TeaBea Posts: 14,517 Member
    edited October 2015
    Welcome to MFP!

    My advice is to eat "regular" food. Temporary dietary changes - low carb, or no sugar, will set you up for failure during maintenance.

    As you are logging food, you will find some surprises. There are things I choose not to eat (anymore) because they just aren't worth it (to me). As you are logging you might tweak things here and there. There is a learning curve to find things that keep you full longer, and that help you meet protein and fat goals.

    I'm fat because my portions are too big, and I snack too much. These are things I will need to control forever. Logging doesn't mean I don't snack....but it does hold me accountable.

    Don't try to go crazy low in calories. Weight loss takes time. Being miserable for months on end is no way to live.

    You don't have to be perfect to lose weight. Cut yourself some slack. Just aim to make better decisions and the weight will come off.

    After food is squared away find an activity you enjoy. Move more. It doesn't have to be crazy hard, it just needs to be consistent.

    Here are a couple good threads for newbies:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    we can give you a very long list of food and even exercise but if you don't want to do it right now you won't lose weight.

    It's apparent to me anyway you didn't want it bad enough over the last 6months...

    my only advice is decide which hard you want...

    it's hard to lose weight and it's hard to be overweight...choose your hard...

    and this is coming from someone who yo yo'd the same 40lbs for 3 years and finally found MFP and 2 years later I am down 60lbs.

    I didn't want it before and I was easily defeated I want it now and I've been working at it but not sure how to achieve it on my own I need help. I've gone down 1.5 lbs in the past week but since I haven't gotten back to my original weight it doesn't look like I've lost anything on the chart. I'm focused and ready to do this I just need tips. That I can go do and not be confused with.

    Then my suggestion is this...

    Get info into MFP with a 1lb a week weight loss goal, buy a food scale, eat the food you like/love want and log it for about a week (maybe less) see where you can change eating habit and start substituting higher calorie foods for other things.

    For example instead of a big bowl of cereal and whole milk weigh out a serving and use 1% milk.

    Instead of eating a bag of chips weigh out a serving

    Instead of chicken wings choose chicken breast.

    My diary is open if you want to see what I eat and have for my entire time here...

    Eggs, bacon, chocolate, fast food, pie etc...just smaller portions and I weigh it out.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.
  • concordancia
    concordancia Posts: 5,320 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    Have you entered your info into MFP and gotten a calorie goal?

    No I haven't not sure what that is.

    MFP is the website you posted your question on. You have set up an account, are you using the calorie suggestions and the tracking tools?
  • enterdanger
    enterdanger Posts: 2,447 Member
    Hi. I agree with others. Use the tool on my fitness pal to help you set a daily calorie goal. I would go in with a 1-1.5lbs a week weight loss goal. Tell it how active you are ( I sit at a desk all day so I'm sedentary). It will tell you how many calories you can eat to lose. Then, you just eat and log your food here.

    If you aren't sure what kind of meals might work take a look at people's food diaries. Mine is public you can access it by clicking on my username and then clicking on view diary. I've only got this week filled in because I was on vacation last week and I don't log when I'm on vacation. It never hurts to make some friends on here either.

    Don't worry about exercise yet if you don't currently workout. Just get your eating straight and then you can add exercise. One step at a time.
  • crazyjerseygirl
    crazyjerseygirl Posts: 1,252 Member
    Do the MFP thing. DO EEEET!

    Also, a dumb and rather personal question that you might just want to answer in your head:

    Have you ever been diagnosed with ADD/ADHD? I ask because I have and I saw that you mentioned struggling to stay focused. If this is you I suggest doing some reading on the subject. I don't take meds and I don't consider it a disorder in myself (despite the acronyms!) but I have figured a few tricks to help keep me focused while losing weight, chief among them movement.

    Good luck!
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    TeaBea wrote: »
    Welcome to MFP!

    My advice is to eat "regular" food. Temporary dietary changes - low carb, or no sugar, will set you up for failure during maintenance.

    As you are logging food, you will find some surprises. There are things I choose not to eat (anymore) because they just aren't worth it (to me). As you are logging you might tweak things here and there. There is a learning curve to find things that keep you full longer, and that help you meet protein and fat goals.

    I'm fat because my portions are too big, and I snack too much. These are things I will need to control forever. Logging doesn't mean I don't snack....but it does hold me accountable.

    Don't try to go crazy low in calories. Weight loss takes time. Being miserable for months on end is no way to live.

    You don't have to be perfect to lose weight. Cut yourself some slack. Just aim to make better decisions and the weight will come off.

    After food is squared away find an activity you enjoy. Move more. It doesn't have to be crazy hard, it just needs to be consistent.

    Here are a couple good threads for newbies:

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1235566/so-youre-new-here/p1

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1

    Thank you this was really helpful I will implement these things into my daily life.
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    we can give you a very long list of food and even exercise but if you don't want to do it right now you won't lose weight.

    It's apparent to me anyway you didn't want it bad enough over the last 6months...

    my only advice is decide which hard you want...

    it's hard to lose weight and it's hard to be overweight...choose your hard...

    and this is coming from someone who yo yo'd the same 40lbs for 3 years and finally found MFP and 2 years later I am down 60lbs.

    I didn't want it before and I was easily defeated I want it now and I've been working at it but not sure how to achieve it on my own I need help. I've gone down 1.5 lbs in the past week but since I haven't gotten back to my original weight it doesn't look like I've lost anything on the chart. I'm focused and ready to do this I just need tips. That I can go do and not be confused with.

    Then my suggestion is this...

    Get info into MFP with a 1lb a week weight loss goal, buy a food scale, eat the food you like/love want and log it for about a week (maybe less) see where you can change eating habit and start substituting higher calorie foods for other things.

    For example instead of a big bowl of cereal and whole milk weigh out a serving and use 1% milk.

    Instead of eating a bag of chips weigh out a serving

    Instead of chicken wings choose chicken breast.

    My diary is open if you want to see what I eat and have for my entire time here...

    Eggs, bacon, chocolate, fast food, pie etc...just smaller portions and I weigh it out.

    thanks I'll take a look. That helps.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    Have you entered your info into MFP and gotten a calorie goal?

    No I haven't not sure what that is.

    MFP is the website you posted your question on. You have set up an account, are you using the calorie suggestions and the tracking tools?

    I have begun tracking and calorie suggestions I'm always over my sugars though
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    Hi. I agree with others. Use the tool on my fitness pal to help you set a daily calorie goal. I would go in with a 1-1.5lbs a week weight loss goal. Tell it how active you are ( I sit at a desk all day so I'm sedentary). It will tell you how many calories you can eat to lose. Then, you just eat and log your food here.

    If you aren't sure what kind of meals might work take a look at people's food diaries. Mine is public you can access it by clicking on my username and then clicking on view diary. I've only got this week filled in because I was on vacation last week and I don't log when I'm on vacation. It never hurts to make some friends on here either.

    Don't worry about exercise yet if you don't currently workout. Just get your eating straight and then you can add exercise. One step at a time.


    Thanks I'll build on. I'll start with food then add in working out. I'll take a look at your food plan.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)

    That's a good outlook, guess I should focus more on portion control.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)

    That's a good outlook, guess I should focus more on portion control.

    you certainly can eat a bigger volume of salad with lowcal dressing for the same amount of calories as 7 walnuts or a slice of toast. But it's up to you which you find more satisfying. You'll only know by tracking your food and keeping a diary.

    You can do it. You're in control of what goes in your mouth, truly. If you want to eat a bag of Doritos, it's ok. Just log it. Decide if it was worth it, and then think of that experience the next time you're faced with a bag of Doritos you want to eat.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)

    That's a good outlook, guess I should focus more on portion control.

    you certainly can eat a bigger volume of salad with lowcal dressing for the same amount of calories as 7 walnuts or a slice of toast. But it's up to you which you find more satisfying. You'll only know by tracking your food and keeping a diary.

    You can do it. You're in control of what goes in your mouth, truly. If you want to eat a bag of Doritos, it's ok. Just log it. Decide if it was worth it, and then think of that experience the next time you're faced with a bag of Doritos you want to eat.

    Yeah I love snacks so I really am trying to learn to choose salad over chips, or raisins over doughnuts. But it's a process and I am ready for it.
  • WBB55
    WBB55 Posts: 4,131 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)

    That's a good outlook, guess I should focus more on portion control.

    you certainly can eat a bigger volume of salad with lowcal dressing for the same amount of calories as 7 walnuts or a slice of toast. But it's up to you which you find more satisfying. You'll only know by tracking your food and keeping a diary.

    You can do it. You're in control of what goes in your mouth, truly. If you want to eat a bag of Doritos, it's ok. Just log it. Decide if it was worth it, and then think of that experience the next time you're faced with a bag of Doritos you want to eat.

    Yeah I love snacks so I really am trying to learn to choose salad over chips, or raisins over doughnuts. But it's a process and I am ready for it.

    Honestly, in my mind the best thing you can do at first is avoid drinks with calories. Cola, sweet tea, sugar in your coffee. If you avoid things with extra added sugar (as in, don't avoid fruit like bananas, but maybe avoid juice at first) it becomes more difficult to remain obese.

    The doughnut might fill you up more than the raisins. That's something only you can figure out. Honestly, I don't each much of either of those.
  • ahoy_m8
    ahoy_m8 Posts: 3,053 Member
    edited October 2015
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    But it's a process and I am ready for it.

    That's a great attitude. You will have to experiment to find what works best for you. By definition, not everything you try will work "best" so don't be afraid to try something new and give it time to yield meaningful results. Results--that is the key word, and it is super helpful to have accurate data. That means log every morsel, even if afterward it wasn't worth it and you wish you hadn't eaten it. Log it anyway, in the quest for accurate data. Some things are totally unclear (even your weight varies up and down day to day) until you see a trend in several weeks worth of data.

    Some foods keep you full longer. Some foods you enjoy more. Some days you have more energy. Some people like 6 small meals and others like 1 huge meal--only total calories matter for weight loss so do which ever you prefer. Note your observations.

    Like others have said, take MFP's calorie recommendation for losing 1 lb/week and stick to that for several weeks. See how it works for you. Make adjustments from there. And best of luck to you!

    One last thing--get a food scale and weigh everything. Just do it. It will save you a lot of hassle and uncertainty and anguish later if you just get the $15 scale and use it starting now. Cheers!


  • SezxyStef
    SezxyStef Posts: 15,267 Member
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)

    That's a good outlook, guess I should focus more on portion control.

    you certainly can eat a bigger volume of salad with lowcal dressing for the same amount of calories as 7 walnuts or a slice of toast. But it's up to you which you find more satisfying. You'll only know by tracking your food and keeping a diary.

    You can do it. You're in control of what goes in your mouth, truly. If you want to eat a bag of Doritos, it's ok. Just log it. Decide if it was worth it, and then think of that experience the next time you're faced with a bag of Doritos you want to eat.

    Yeah I love snacks so I really am trying to learn to choose salad over chips, or raisins over doughnuts. But it's a process and I am ready for it.

    I totally agree with this...for me the chocolate bar every night is worth it.

    The cupcake at work not so much...

    Don't totally give up your treats tho....eat the chips but in smaller portions.

    I can eat a Honeycrisp apple and it's so big it has as many calories as a chocolate bar...so it's all about choices and what is worth it...

    btw the apple if it is honeycrisp is worth it.
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    ahoy_m8 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    But it's a process and I am ready for it.

    That's a great attitude. You will have to experiment to find what works best for you. By definition, not everything you try will work "best" so don't be afraid to try something new and give it time to yield meaningful results. Results--that is the key word, and it is super helpful to have accurate data. That means log every morsel, even if afterward it wasn't worth it and you wish you hadn't eaten it. Log it anyway, in the quest for accurate data. Some things are totally unclear (even your weight varies up and down day to day) until you see a trend in several weeks worth of data.

    Some foods keep you full longer. Some foods you enjoy more. Some days you have more energy. Some people like 6 small meals and others like 1 huge meal--only total calories matter for weight loss so do which ever you prefer. Note your observations.

    Like others have said, take MFP's calorie recommendation for losing 1 lb/week and stick to that for several weeks. See how it works for you. Make adjustments from there. And best of luck to you!

    One last thing--get a food scale and weigh everything. Just do it. It will save you a lot of hassle and uncertainty and anguish later if you just get the $15 scale and use it starting now. Cheers!


    Thanks very much this was encouraging and refreshing. I'll do just that and I'll invest in a food scale today!
  • gmmoor1
    gmmoor1 Posts: 14 Member
    SezxyStef wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    gmmoor1 wrote: »
    WBB55 wrote: »
    -Make sure MyFitnessPal is set up accurately and gives you a reasonable target based on your goals
    -Log all your food as accurately as possible using a digital scale to weigh things
    -Try to make a habit of being active, even if at first it's just walking 20 minutes every day
    -If you log exercise, try to "eat back" at least half of the extra calories you've earned
    -Consider using a step/activity tracker like a FitBit, so you have a better idea of exactly how many calories you use throughout your day
    -LOG EVERY DAY. No matter if you binge. No matter if you don't know the weights of things. Just get into the habit of logging.

    Do this for 6 weeks. At that point, re-assess and change goals if needed. Add more exercise, adjust your target calories, etc.

    Thanks I found myself eating the wrong things and I stopped logging but then I fell off because I wasn't accountable. So I'll start logging everything regardless

    In my mind, you'll have more success if you stop thinking of certain foods as good or bad. They're just food. Sure, sometimes we eat more calories of them than we intend to, but the food itself is neither right nor wrong. (Unless you have specific goals like managing diabetes or seizures or something like that.)

    That's a good outlook, guess I should focus more on portion control.

    you certainly can eat a bigger volume of salad with lowcal dressing for the same amount of calories as 7 walnuts or a slice of toast. But it's up to you which you find more satisfying. You'll only know by tracking your food and keeping a diary.

    You can do it. You're in control of what goes in your mouth, truly. If you want to eat a bag of Doritos, it's ok. Just log it. Decide if it was worth it, and then think of that experience the next time you're faced with a bag of Doritos you want to eat.

    Yeah I love snacks so I really am trying to learn to choose salad over chips, or raisins over doughnuts. But it's a process and I am ready for it.

    I totally agree with this...for me the chocolate bar every night is worth it.

    The cupcake at work not so much...

    Don't totally give up your treats tho....eat the chips but in smaller portions.

    I can eat a Honeycrisp apple and it's so big it has as many calories as a chocolate bar...so it's all about choices and what is worth it...

    btw the apple if it is honeycrisp is worth it.

    Now I have to go and try it because you made it sound so good, lol. But thanks I'll make sure my snack stay within my limits
  • Kalikel
    Kalikel Posts: 9,603 Member
    Read up on Nurtition. Your local library should have a textbook. Better yet, see your doctor (as everyone who begins a weight loss journey should) and get a referral to a dietitian. The dietitian will get what you need from the doctor, answer all your questions about what you should or shouldn't be eating and help you create a plan that's just for you.

    The dietitian is the best 30-60 minutes that you'll spend on your diet. Most insurance companies will cover at least one visit, but if yours doesn't, it's really not all that expensive.

    Also, edamame. If you haven't had any yet, pick up a bag. Thank me later.

    Good luck. :)
  • middlehaitch
    middlehaitch Posts: 8,486 Member
    @gmmoor1 Can I add just a couple of other thoughts.

    It may be worth your time to just log what you are eating now for a month (without cutting your calories or changing what you eat) and weighing yourself daily.

    This will give you a good base to analyse what you are eating, when and why. There is a space to make food notes, or you can journal.
    It will also give you something to work from with a dietitian, if you chose to see one.

    Weighing yourself daily for a month will show you how your weight varies day by day for various reasons; hormones, water retention because you ate food with more salt than you usually eat, etc. Weigh at the same time every day, a lot of people like to weigh as soon as they get up after they have been to the toilet.
    This will help you when you see unexpected movements on the scale while you are losing.

    Cheers, h.